Extrusion International 5-2026-USA

47 Extrusion International 4/2025 Climate Policy Should be Based on the Realities of Science, Manufacturing Orion, a specialty chemical company, has released its 2025 Sustainability Report today, highlighting the need for a climate policy that reects the basic realities of chemistry and manufacturing. The climate policy issue is the focus of the report’s “CEO Letter,” which notes the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) is one of the top sustainability topics on the minds of leaders in the chemical industry with operations in Europe. The ETS is designed to reduce European greenhouse gas emissions by requiring companies to purchase permits to cover their carbon dioxide, or CO 2 , emissions. Although businesses receive a certain number of free allowances each year to cushion the ETS burden, the allowance thresh- olds are intended to be phased out over time. Given the potential impact on the competitiveness of Eu- rope’s industrial base, there have been protests and chal- lenges from companies, industry associations and some politicians. “While I support the underlying goal of the ETS,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said, “the policy is simply going to re- sult in shifting jobs and CO 2 emissions from Europe to Asia, with no reduction in CO 2 .” Painter added, “The policy’s expectations for the carbon black industry overlook basic realities of chemistry, physics and manufacturing.” The overlooked realities include: • CO 2 is a low-energy molecule. Converting CO 2 to use- ful products demands signi cant energy, which often pro - duces more CO 2 . • Separating CO 2 is energy intensive. The process of re- moving CO 2 from other emissions requires energy, which often generates more emissions. • Capturing or converting CO 2 is expensive. Cost-con- scious consumers are generally reluctant to spend more on sustainable products. The report encourages the EU to choose a more realis- tic path based on science. Of cials should adopt ways to transition manufacturing toward sustainability through in- novation coupled with incentives, as well as more judicious trade policies. “The EU’s current policy will simply result in European manufacturing being replaced by production in India and China,” Painter said. “This will not help the environment, and it will make the EU more dependent on imports for es- sential raw materials, such as carbon black.” The full Sustainability Report with the CEO Letter is avail- able on Orion’s website: Orion S.A. https://orioncarbons.com/sustainability/ Expansion to Strengthen Presence in the U.S. Plastics Manufacturing Industry POLYFIL USA is underway on a $12 million redevelopment of its headquar- ters in Rockaway Twp., NJ, marking a major investment in advanced manu- facturing, innovation and long-term growth. The project includes a 28,000 SF addition to the existing 59,000 SF facility, as well as a signi cant invest - ment in state-of-the-art compound- ing equipment. The new wing of the facility is slated to be operational in 2027. The groundbreaking represents the culmination of years of vision and perseverance, according to Juan Cas- taneda, Managing Director of Poly l. "When we rst envisioned increas - ing our manufacturing space, we knew the road ahead would be challenging - government approvals, environmental regulations and the complexity of the permitting process tested our resolve,” Castaneda said. “However, those chal- lenges only strengthened our commit- ment to growing Poly l’s footprint in New Jersey, coupled with investing in the future growth of American manu- facturing,” he added. The expansion follows more than three years of collaboration with state, county, and local agencies, securing the approvals needed to preserve and grow their base of operations here in Rockaway Township. Castaneda emphasized that the achievement reects the dedication of many (team) players. A key contribu- tor was Kimmerle Group (KG), led by George J. Kimmerle, serving as devel- opment advisor and architect/planner of record. Working with Dewberry Engineering and a multidisciplinary legal and engineering team – includ- ing Neil Yoskin (Cullen and Dykman), Glenn Kienz (Weiner Law Group), Da- vid Glass (CLB Partners), Mario Ianelli (Dewberry), and Angelo Baute (Kim- merle Group) – the project successfully secured approvals from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protec- tion, Rockaway Township and Morris County. Construction is being led by Corporate Contracting, Inc., under the watchful eye of CEO Michael Walsh. Castaneda also recognized the un- wavering support of The Kafrit Group, Poly l’s parent organization. Poly l Inc. Poly linc.com Left to Right: Richard Jecmen, Senior Associate – Angelo Baute, Project Manager – George Kimmerle, Founding Partner (all with Kimmerle Group); Juan Castaneda, Managing Director (Poly l USA); NJ Senator Anthony Bucco; Jonathan Sackett (Rockaway Twp. Council V.P.); and Michael Walsh (CEO of Corporate Contracting)